Police: Man reports pill theft, gets busted for drug deal

WAYNESBORO - A Waynesboro man is to appear in court Tuesday on allegations that he inadvertently showed police text messages indicating his actions to sell prescription medication which he initially called police to report the theft of.

Robert John Bitler, 43, is charged with delivery or possession with intent to delivery a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility, tampering with evidence and making false reports, according to court documents.

Waynesboro police were called to speak with Bitler around 11:42 a.m. Wednesday regarding a claimed theft of medication, according to court documents. Bitler said a man named "Joe" stole a nearly full bottle of Adderall, and the prescription was for 60 pills. Bitler said the medication - an amphetamine used for the treatment of ADHD - is for a juvenile in his life, and that the prescription was filled the day prior.

Bitler told police he didn't have Joe's last name but had a phone number for him. He retrieved the number from a cell phone he was holding and began showing the texts he had sent to Joe about the theft.

Officers retrieved the phone from Bitler and continued going through the messages while writing them down. Messages showed Bitler told Joe he had contacted police, threatening him. Joe responded saying "I got u tomorrow" and that he didn't take anything.

As officers continued to scroll through the text messages, they found a message from an earlier date in which Bitler asked the Joe person how many he wanted. Joe responded, asking if it was instant or extended release, and Bitler replied it was "reg Adderall," according to court documents.

The exchange continued, including Bitler giving a price, then another message came from Joe saying there were only 56 pills in the bottle. Bitler replied that he would call the pharmacy because he was short on pills.

When officers confronted Bitler about the texts, he at first denied selling the Adderall pills. The officer gave Bitler back the phone, but soon took the phone back after noticing Bitler doing things to it. The office then saw there were several messages marked to be deleted.

The officer seized the phone for evidence and took Bitler into custody.

One of the officers asked Bitler if he used heroin, and Bitler said he did. Bitler said he was selling the pills to pay his bills, and that he did not want to go to jail.